ML17325A132
| ML17325A132 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Cook  |
| Issue date: | 05/26/1987 |
| From: | Holahan G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER CO. (FORMERLY INDIANA & MICHIG |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17325A133 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8706040342 | |
| Download: ML17325A132 (6) | |
Text
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of Indiana and Michigan Electric Company Donald C.
Cook Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2
Docket Nos.
50-315 and 50-316 EXEMPTION The Indiana and Michigan Electric Company (IMEC, the licensee) is the holder of. Facility Operating License Nos.
DPR-58 and DPR-74, which authorize operation of Donald C.
Cook Nuclear. Plant, Unit Nos.
1 and 2 (the facilities), at a steady-state power level not to exceed 3250 and 34].l megawatts
- thermal, respectively.
The facilities are pressurized water reactors (PNR) located in 8errien County, Michigan.
These licenses
- provide, among other things, that the facilities are subject to all rules, regulations, and Orders of the Commission now or hereafter in effect.
On November 19, 1980, the Commission published a revised Section 50.48 and a new Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 regarding fire protection features of nuclear power plants.
The revised Section 50.48 and Appendix R became effective on February 17, 1981.
Section III of Appendix R contains 15 subsections lettered A through 0, each of which specifies requirements for a particular I
aspect of the fire protection features at a nuclear power plant.
l 4a 87052b, I
PDR ADOC 870b0403-K 05000315 F
~
~
One of the subsections, III.J, is the subject of the licensee's exemption request.
Section III.J, requires that emergency lighting units with at least an 8-hour battery power supply shall be provided in all areas needed for operation of safe shutdown equipment and in access and egress routes thereto.
By letter dated March 6, 1987, the licensee submitted a request for exemption from the technical requirements of Section III.J of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50.
For safe shutdown of the facilities in the event of a fire, it may become necessary for plant personnel to control steam generator power-operated relief valves.
In the shutdown procedures, the back-up manual operation of these valves must be accomplished from nitrogen regulator valves located in the outdoor yard area.
This area does not have emergency 'power with at least an 8-hour battery power supply but is in an area with normal and plant outdoor lighting backed up by a 500 kW security diesel generator.
In the event of a station blackout or loss of lighting in the yard area, the security diesel generator provides the lighting for security measures and, in so doing, also lights the area for manual operation of the nitrogen regulator valves.
The licensee's request is for an exemption to the requirement of Section III.J of Appendix R to provide lighting in the outdoor area powered from an 8-hour battery power supply.
The underlying purpose of the rule is to provide a
separate lighting system not interrupted by fires for areas needed for operation of safe shutdown equipment and in access and egress routes to the equipment.
~
~
The licensees'equest will provide an alternative to the 8-hour battery power supply.
The 500 kW security diesel generator is controlled by circuitry and associated cables located outside the plant area that would be affected by a fire that would require activation of the safe shutdown fire procedures.
The diesel is run-and load-tested monthly and receives biannual preventive maintenance.
In the event of a plant fire, the normal outdoor lighting also on separate circuits should not be affected.
Should a station blackout occur or the normal outdoor lighting fail concurrent with the fire, the security diesel generators are started and provide continued emergency security
- measures, including outdoor lighting, for the yard area.
Since the normal and emergency power sources are located outside the plant, the installation of 8-hour battery powered lighting units would not significantly improve the level of protection in this area.
Based on the above evaluation, the staff concludes that the installation of an 8-hour battery powered lighting system in the yard area would not significantly improve emergency lighting and that the emergency security diesel lighting provides an acceptable alternative for the purpose of the rule.
IV.
Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), that (I) the exemption as described in Section III is authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the common defense and security; and (2) special circumstances
JL
~
E
~
~
-4 are present for the exemption in that application of the regulation in this particular circumstance is not necessary to achieve the underlying purposes of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50.
Therefore, the Commission grants the exemption from the requirements of Section III.J of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 to the extent discussed in Section III above.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the granting of this exemption will have no significant impact on the environment (April 3,
- 1987, 52 FR 10833).
This Exemption is effective upon issuance.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION m (A~
Gary M.
olah n, Acting Director Division of Reactor Projects III, IV, V 8 Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Dated at Bethesda, Maryland this 26th day of May, 1987.